Can i switch hosting

Simply fire up the FTP client we talked about, insert your credentials, and connect. Note that your website might contain files that are not visible by default such as. Therefore be sure that your FTP client displays those files as well. Once you have marked all files, copy them to a directory on your computer. Depending on the size of your site, this might take a while so we can move to step two meanwhile.

The database is the second part of your website. The way you get access to it differs from host to host. In most cases you end up in phpMyAdmin:. Select the database you want to export from the left.

When you are done, click Go at the bottom. This should result in a file download. Save the compressed database to your computer and move on to the next step. Go to your new host and log into your account. Find the section that deals with MySQL databases. Note down all three, you will need them soon. Also, find out the name of your MySQL server. In many cases, this will be localhost but check with your hosting provider to be sure. By now, your website files should have finished downloading. The first thing you should do is make a copy of the existing file and store it somewhere safe.

After that, open the original with your text editor and find the following section:. Those will be in the same position. Additionally, make sure you insert your MySQL server information in the place of localhost or leave it as is if your hosting provider uses localhost for this setting. When you are done, save the file. Once all of that is finished, you can start the process in a reverse direction.

The first step is to upload your files to the server at your new hosting provider. By now, you know the drill. Fire up your FTP client and this time connect to the new server.

There is a workaround, which is using the IP address of your new server instead. You can usually find this in your hosting account. If not, be sure to contact support — they should be able to help you out. When you are done, find the files you downloaded earlier and upload them including the modified config. Once the upload is running, move on to the next step. Meanwhile, we can take the time to import the database.

For that, log into the database administration tool on your new server. We will assume it is phpMyAdmin again. Select the database you created earlier from the list and pick Import at the top of the screen.

Click the Browse button and select the file you exported earlier. After that, scroll down to the bottom and click Go. The import will then start. The time it takes to finish depends on the size of your database. If you are not only moving your site over to a new web host but also changing your URL, there is one extra step.

In this case, you need to replace references to your old URL in the database with the new one. There are several ways to do this. You can download it for free in exchange for your email address. Just upload it to your website directory in a secret folder and navigate there using your browser. Simply insert your old and new URL in the fields on top. Everything else should usually stay as-is. Use the dry run button to test everything.

When everything looks good, do the live run. Important: Under no circumstances should you leave the script on the server once you are done. When you are done with all of the above, it is time to put your URL on the new server.

That means changing your DNS server settings. The process depends on where your domain is registered. For example, if you registered with your old hosting provider, the best idea is to transfer the entire domain to the new provider. Talk to the support about how to do that. If you have bought it from a domain registrar like Domain. You will need the nameserver addresses of your new host. They usually look something like this:. You will have to connect these with your domain.

As mentioned, the process will be slightly different depending on where you have purchased it. Picking a web host that offers free migration service is the best option for beginners and busy business owners.

Web hosting is a competitive industry — hosting companies are doing all they can to win new customers. Many hosting companies, including some great ones that I recommend, provide free website migration service to new customers. All you need to do is request a migration after signing up with the new provider and their support team will take care of the heavy-lifting. In most cases, this is the preferred way so you can save time and focus on other crucial work with your website.

File a migration request with your new web host. Usually all you need to do is to provide login data at your old host — hostname, control panel login, and FTP login, etc; and your new web host will take care of the rest. There are a variety of hosting solutions out there, each with its own configuration and offer. You will need to evaluate and compare which is right for you based on a number of factors, such as cost, required space, and server configuration, to name a few.

It'a good PR practice to do periodically status updates on social media networks to keep your clients informed. Plus, consider asking your users not to visit your website during migration to minimize system load and prevent additional customer service headaches. For those who are running a static website site with no database , all you need to do is download everything. I recommend using FileZilla if you are looking for one.

For a dynamic site that runs on database ie. MySQL , you'll need to export your database from your old web host and import it to your new web host. If you are on cPanel, this step can be done easily using phpMyAdmin. In case you are using a content management system i. WordPress, Joomla , you will need to install the applications a the new web host before importing the database.

Some CMS provides easy transfer functionality ie. Alternatively, there are plenty of good migrating plugins for those who are moving WordPress site to a new web host.

These plugins will help you to move, migrate, or even clone a WordPress site to a new web host with no technical knowledge required. Some web hosting companies provide their own WordPress migration plugin. You should make use of the in-house plugins when switching to those particular companies. Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of switching your web host is transferring your email.

Basically you'll bump into one of these three scenarios:. This email setup is the easiest to move. Scenario 2: Email accounts are hosted with a third party such as Microsoft Ensure that your MX records, along with any other records that your email service provider needs, are updated in your DNS.

If you are transferring a full account from cPanel to cPanel, you don't have to transfer your email accounts manually.

Alternatively, you can download all your email accounts and all files within from cPanel File Manager and upload it to your new web host. The process is simple — here's a step-by-step guide in case you need help. In worst case scenario transferring from a less user-friendly hosting control panel , you will need to re-create all existing email accounts in your new web host manually. The process can be a little tedious — especially if you are running on a lot of email addresses.

Once you have loaded your files onto the new hosting configuration, double check that everything is working properly on your website. Some hosting companies provide a development staging platform ie. SiteGround so that you can easily and fluidly preview your site before taking it live in the new environment, allowing you to remedy any problems behind the scenes.

If this happens, your visitors are likely to experience errors. Keep an eye on the log during and after the switch — this log will alert you of any non-working links or assets that you need to remedy to restore your site to being fully functional. In most cases, you can make use of. The following are some sample codes you can make use of. To minimize the damage cause by broken links — where moved. There's risk where your database could be corrupted during the switch.

I will use WordPress as example because that's what I am most familiar with. In case that you can still access your WP dashboard, try to first disable all plugins and see if your database pulls up correctly. Then, re-enable them one at a time, checking the home page each time to make sure it is showing correctly. Things would get a little trickier if you cannot access your dashboard. For example, many hosts provide troubleshooting guidance for different types of errors on your website or support for platforms such as WordPress.

Most websites start small and grow over time. Your current host may have been a great fit when you were first launching your site, but if your traffic levels have increased significantly, this may no longer be the case. Moving from shared hosting to a dedicated server can help, but switching hosts can often provide a greater benefit. Other hosts may have dedicated servers available, but still not offer as much storage as you need.

Web hosting is a recurring expense. Plus, it never hurts to pocket a little extra cash each month. As we mentioned earlier in this post, hosts are responsible for securing their servers. Not every provider is as diligent as they should be when it comes to security, and hackers will sometimes exploit weaknesses in your server to gain access to your site. This can be detrimental to your website for multiple reasons, including:.

Investing in secure hosting is a smart move. Of course, no matter how secure your server is, you should always follow security best practices for your site itself, too. Typically, the migration process is pretty involved. As you might imagine, there are a lot of things that could go wrong during this process.

Fortunately, DreamHost has a solution for you!